Page 46 of A Rancher's Love
She hesitated. “No set time. We see how things go.”
“But I want you in my bed,” Tucker admitted. “And I mean that literally, as well as sex.”
“I like sleeping with you, too.” Ginny made a face. “Yes, as well as the sex, but we can figure that out.”
“You’re moving into the Hayes cottage, right?” Which was right out in the open hillside. Everyone and their dog would see if he stopped to visit. “We’ll get creative. But I mean it, Ginny. As soon as things are going smoothly, I’m officially asking you out. And prepare to be spoiled.”
“I look forward to it.” The delight on her face was very real and very ego stroking. “I really want you to be my boyfriend, Tucker Stewart, but we’ve been patient this long. What’s a little longer?”
It was a wise sentiment, but Tucker was pretty sure agreeing to this would come back and kick his butt in more ways than one.
“Then I hope you don’t mind us burning up a little energy a couple more times tonight. Maybe again in the morning.” He pressed a kiss to her knuckles. “I talked to my boss. I have to head back to Winnipeg for a week.”
She offered him a cheeky wink, trailing her fingers over his shoulder as she rose and headed back to the refrigerator. “Well, I’m disappointed we won’t get that solid two weeks trapped together in this love cave, but the sooner you go, the sooner you get back. Let’s make some supper so we’ll have enough energy to ravish each other as much as possible tonight.”
As plans went, it sounded rock-solid to Tucker.
Early the next morning,Ginny let the covers fall back into place as Tucker closed the door behind himself.
It was better to let him do all the things he needed before setting off on his long drive, and there was nothing she could do to help him right now anyway.
She stretched lazily, appreciating the little aches and pains in her body from what had ended up being a spectacular sexual marathon. She was glad she’d nabbed the condoms.
Tucker Stewart wanted to date her.
Ginny stretched her arms over her head and let out a squeal of delight. Okay that thought was every bit as thrilling as fourteen-year-old her could have wanted.
But she was serious about not interfering with him getting established at Silver Stone. Maybe if things had been different, like if Tucker had been around every year, or if her parents and the Hayeses had still been there. Being mentored by a solid group of older men would’ve given Tucker so much of a head start.
She was pretty sure her brothers would approve in theory. Caleb obviously did, and Luke thought the world of Tucker.
But if she was in the picture, would her brothers get tangled up with thoughts of her as their little sister to protect, instead of focusing on Tucker as a cohort to encourage and bring up to speed?
She sighed. Being an adult sucked, but here they were.
Which meant her plans to juggle the next thing while making frequent booty calls got adjusted. In a way, it might be good to focus all of her attention on catching up with old friends and future plans for staying on the ranch.
The package on top of the dresser caught her attention. She was revved up enough from the excitement bubbling inside and the sneaky suspicion that she would be an emotional wreck that night anyway once it sank in that she didn’t get to cuddle with Tucker.
She grabbed the package off the dresser and sat back on the bed.
Unraveling the ancient twine gave her time to reconsider, but now her curiosity was in high gear.
She carefully undid the brittle tape holding the parchment paper in place and discovered a plain but sturdy cardboard box. The lid lifted off easily revealing two matching hardcover journals.
A rush of memory slipped in…
“Mom?”Ginny kicked off her boots at the back door and made her way farther into the house. Something bubbled on the stove, so her mom had to be somewhere nearby.
“In here,” her mom called. “Just a minute.”
Ginny rounded the corner into her mom’s office in time to see her pick up her shiny red journal and tuck it into the top desk drawer. “Oh. Writing in your diary,” Ginny teased.
Her mom folded her hands. “Yes, I was. Someday you’ll appreciate it.”
“Not if you’re writing stuff in there about you and Dad. There are some things I don’t need to know,” Ginny insisted.
“Wait until you fall in love. Then you might be curious to hear other people’s stories.”
